All about Software Development, Career Discovery and Arduino

This Saturday, I had the privilege of attending Austin Teshuba’s Think Tank on “UI/UX Design, Software Development and Product Management ” as a part of the Associate National Lead program. As part of this program, aside from getting to build and host my own conference, I get to build connections with industry professionals and leaders.

Versatility of Business in the Tech Industry

Through Austin, I learned that there are various divisions within a Tech Company. These different sectors all come together in order to create a finished product for the consumer market.

Some of the main divisions are:

• Product management: oversees product development, conduct market research and suggest design improvements

• Software Development: create, design, deploy, and support software relating to product

• UI/UX: design product appearance to improve user experience

• Human Resources: hiring, administration, and training of employees

• Legal: manages all legal aspects of the business

• Marketing: promote products by conducting market research and advertising

The great thing about pursuing business is its applicability in almost any field. The business focus on developing soft and hard skills makes applicants incredibly flexible to a variety of challenges in the corporate world.

Who are You?

With the ever increasing number of career opportunities today, it is easy to be confused as to what you’re truly interested in. For Highschool students, it is important to conduct your own research into the fields you’re interested in. Also tap into your interests as inspiration for potential career paths. If you are interested in music, you might want to become a musician. Even if you don’t end up getting your dream job, there are many other jobs in the selective industries that you could further consider. The abundance of opportunities also creates a flexible environment for aspiring workers.

Building Your Portfolio

In the digital age, it has become increasingly important to stand out in the hiring process among the ocean of applicants. The quality of your resume is a huge factor for employers and it’s imperative that you use the space effectively. Austin outlined the importance of telling your own story through your resume. Each job is different and it is important to tailor your resume to the specifications of the job. Here are some key points to consider for your resume:

• Easy to skim over

• Choose experiences and skills specific to the position

• Combine simplicity and creativity(think of the nature of the career)

Arduino

Austin also introduced us to Arduinos and their applications in the real world. Today, we have the luxury to access technology such as laptops, mobile devices, smart refrigerators, and even our cars. However, these devices will be pieces of metal without being programmed to perform their functions. Arduino is a tool used by beginners and professionals to design tools that can interact with the real world. I learned of the increasing importance of programming as a skill and how it is transferable in many industries.

Overall, this was a very insightful learning experience with many useful pieces of information. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to attend the next think tank!